"Ok, here's another one." Diarmuid cleared his throat. "You dare defy me, you rabid dog? I will strike you down, mongrel!"
Sakura burst out laughing at the brunet's imitation of the pompous warrior she had learnt was called Gilgamesh. "Really, he sounds like such a fun guy."
Diarmuid smirked. "Your definition of fun is very different from mine."
"So, was he a strong warrior?"
"Oh, he was. His Gate of Babylon was a formidable sight indeed."
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Gate of Babylon?"
"His Noble Phantasm."
"What is that?"
Knowing that this conversation was probably going to take a while, Diarmuid made himself comfortable on the couch beside her. "It was the manifestation of his powers, the ace up his sleeve."
"Did you have a Noble Phantasm?" she asked curiously. She couldn't say that she wasn't intrigued. She knew little about his life as a warrior.
As if expecting that question, the man smirked. "What do you take me for? Of course I had one!"
"Ok, ok! Don't get your panties in a twist!" she joked. "What did yours do then?"
"In truth, both Gae Dearg and Gae Buidhe were my Noble Phantasms."
"So, both your spears?"
"That is so, my Lady." His expression was almost nostalgic. "With my Gae Buidhe I could inflict wounds that no one could heal. Gae Dearg on the other hand, could render all magical enhancements and projections useless by severing all ties with magical energy."
Sakura whistled in wonder. "That's a mean skill to have. I can't imagine what us medics would do if any of our enemies discovered something like that." She almost shuddered at the thought.
"No need to worry. Those are indeed very special skills one cannot simply obtain."
"You know, this is the first time you actually talk to me about your past." she remarked, making a show of glancing at her nails though he knew she was observing him in the corner of her eye.
"It must have slipped my mind." he answered with a smirk. "We have time. Is there anything in particular you'd like to know?"
She perked up at that, unable to keep her curiosity in check. "Is it ok if I ask?"
He shook his head smiling. "You've opened more than just your house to me, Sakura. It's only fair that I be completely honest with you. Ask whatever your heart desires."
"What kind of war were you fighting?" It had always bugged her. He spoke of people and powers she had never heard of. And while he had given her no reason to doubt him, it was only natural that she would want to know what exactly he had been fighting for.
"That's a tricky one and I can't promise you that you'll understand but I'll try." he said, preparing himself to tell his story. Pleasant and unpleasant memories alike. "It was called the Fourth Holy Grail War. There were seven of us. Seven champions serving seven Masters, fighting for them in a battle to the death over possession of an artifact that would grant the victor a wish, whatever their heart desired."
Sakura's eyes widened. "Wow….That would provide a pretty strong motive to anyone to fight."
"Indeed. To fight and to kill and to betray."
"Why did you become involved in this war? It doesn't sound like a situation the Diarmuid I know would like to be in."
"Perhaps you are right." he said. "The fact is, I was chosen to take part in this battle."
"By who?"
"The Holy Grail itself. It chose me as it chose my Master."
"Your Master?"
"A Mage with nine generations of magic in his blood by the name of Kayneth." His eyes darkened. "I was to serve him and win the War for him."
The pink-haired woman scratched the back of her head nervously. "I take it he wasn't the most pleasant one out there, was he?"
Diarmuid chuckled humorlessly. "No, he wasn't." he said. "He was selfish, obsessed with power and thought that his lineage put him above all others. He was a man with no virtue, with no respect for another man's honor."
"So, what happened?" she asked carefully, not wanting to bring back any unwanted memories.
"Whatever happens in every war." he said. "Murder, conspiracy, betrayal. In the end, a warrior's honor and code of conduct mattered less than the desire for power."
"Were you…Were you betrayed?"
His red eyes got a far-off look, as if recalling painful memories and unknowingly to him a small frown appeared on his face. He remained silent for a while and Sakura feared she had asked the wrong question.
"I was." he finally said after a few more seconds of heavy silence. "I was betrayed by my Master, sentenced to death for a crime I never committed. Humiliated because of his arrogance and pathological jealousy."
Sakura stared at the man, who seemed to be lost in his own memories and she quickly felt guilt creep its way inside her heart for bringing up the subject. She could only imagine how awful it had to be, being betrayed by your own master, the one you swore to protect with your life. The one you were willing to sacrifice so much for. Tsunade was her teacher as she was her leader. The pink-haired girl didn't dare imagine the day that the blonde Senju would turn her back on the village, on every shinobi and civilian that looked up to her for guidance, for protection. It would be their worst nightmare becoming reality. It would mean the end of Konoha.
Diamruid was so lost in his recollection of that fateful night in Fuyuki that he didn't register the girl moving closer to him until the moment she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him in her warm embrace. For a moment he froze in surprise, not expecting such a move from her but he immediately relaxed and wrapped his own arms around her, burring his nose in her pink locks. It was not pity she was offering but companionship, a hug to say 'I'm here for you.' Diarmuid allowed himself to bask in her presence and revel in the warmth she provided, both to his body and soul. He had forgotten how liberating simple human contact could be.
'But Sakura is not just another woman….'
She pulled back a couple of minutes later and ruffled his hair affectionately, smiling widely with a small blush on her cheeks. "If it's brings you any comfort, I know exactly how you feel."
He raised an eyebrow in confusion, already missing her warmth. "How so?"
"Years ago, when I was but a girl, the boy I held close to my heart abandoned me."
Diarmuid sucked in a breath at the revelation. "He…..left you?"
The woman nodded with a small nostalgic smile. "We used to be on the same team; him, Naruto and myself. He had a very troubled past and eventually we drifted apart, we lost him to his pursuit for power. His quest to extract revenge from those who had wronged him took him away from the village and from us."
"Sakura, I…..I'm so sorry."
The woman smiled reassuringly. "Don't be. It was a long time ago. I've moved on from my past. I only hope that he has too."
"Did he ever come back?"
"Oh, eventually he did." said the woman, playing with a lock of her rosy hair. "It took a couple of near-death situations but in the end we managed to drag his ass back. It took a hell lot of rehabilitation and Naruto biting his ears off, but he's become a member of our society once more, as social as Sasuke can be. " she finished with an amused giggle.
Diarmuid frowned. "How come I've never met him?"
"He's been away on a long-term mission for the past six months. Information gathering mostly. I'm not at liberty to say more."
The handsome brunet crossed his arms across his chest. "Well, he is an idiot."
The pink-haired raised an eyebrow. "I won't disagree but why is that?"
"What else can he be if he chose power over you?"
Taken aback by his words, Sakura only stared at him before averting her gaze to hide the blush that colored her cheeks. She couldn't even remember the last time she had felt so flattered by a man's words, let alone have her heart beat so erratically in her chest.
Diarmuid smiled widely at the light blush on the woman's face, her rosy cheeks suiting her well. "So, what's for dinner tonight?" he asked, deciding to take her out of her slightly uncomfortable position.
"Oh my! We are so gonna be late!" exclaimed the girl, inwardly thankful for the distraction and more than willing to divert her thoughts away from the reactions the handsome brunette could elicit from her. "We're having dinner with my team tonight. Kakashi-sensei sent word this morning. Didn't I tell you?"
"It must have slipped your mind." he answered, shaking his head in amusement.
"Well, I'm telling you now!" she said, jumping up from the couch in a swift move. It never ceased to amaze Diarmuid how flexible she really was. 'Bad thoughts, Duibhne! Bad thoughts!'
"Get up! Go get dressed before Naruto comes barging in, demanding to know what is taking us so long. If he does, it's up to you to explain!" she yelled as she ran up the stairs.
"Hey, that's so unfair!" he shouted back though a deaf man could have heard the amusement in his voice.
"Don't care!" came the reply and Diarmuid chuckled. 'This woman is going to be the death of me…'
The brunet's mind flew to his unfortunate first meeting with Sakura's team. Her one-eyed sensei he was not worried about but his ears still hurt from her boisterous blond teammate's yelling. He groaned.
'This is going to be a long night…'
TBC
Hey there guys! How are you doing? Our dear protagonists had a little heart-to-heart. Opening up about their painful pasts is such a great way for the both of them to get to know each other better, more intimately, don't you think?
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I love your reviews so please keep telling me what you think!
IMPORTANT! In light of my upcoming Naruto-Fate/Zero Crossover (starring Diarmuid and Sakura, obviously!) taking place around Diarmuid's time as a knight in the service of Fionn, I have put up a poll regarding Graine's role in the story. I do intend to add her as a character but I'm not sure whether I'm going to follow the actual legend of Diarmuid where she put a geis on him in order to make him run away with her or add her in the story as the woman he used to be in love with until he realized that they were never meant to be.
Please, spare a couple of minutes to go to my profile and vote. It would help me a lot!
Anyway, thank you for your time! Until next time, READ AND REVIEW!
Lots of love!
